School can be pretty dangerous sometimes and Trey likes to be prepared :)  Today our science experiment was building/launching a rocket (an experiment I admittedly passed on during my 1st trimester).  The alka seltzer in the film canister rocket didn't make quite as big of a chemical reaction as I was hoping for, but nonetheless, Trey was safe. . .

 

 

 

 Tonight we went on our 1st hike of the season. . .again, safety first for Trey. . .he wore his camouflage coat so he could blend in to his surroundings.  Where's Trey??

 The big kids have explored these trails alot, but this was the first time Ryker could really keep up with them, and he loved it. . .he put his hands in his pockets like his big bro and picked up a stick like his other big bro.  Here he is in true boy fashion saying "hiya" as he hits the trees with his stick ;)

We saw quite a few creatures tonight!  I think they haven't been scared away yet for the season. . .our favorite was a duck out on the pond that was walking on the ice and kept falling in. . then it had to try to swim through the icy water or get back up on the ice and fall in again. . .at dinnertime when we shared the best parts of our day, that was one of them :)

 

 

 spotting a squirrel. . .

 We then hit the park for awhile before heading to dinner (at McDonalds). . .another best part of their day :)

Thankful for a fun evening that completely wore out our crew. . .all were in bed between 7:30 and 8:30, completely tired and with dirty feet. . .

When the pools aren't open yet. . .

Girls afternoon out

Ainsley and Madison's 1st Pedicures :)

 

 

                                            You girls are beautiful on the inside and out!
At a womens Expo, Michelle and I got giftcards for the girls to get pedicures. . .we were going to put them in their stockings.  Someone (me) forgot to do so and Maddie asked Ainsley if she got one :)  Ainsley got hers for Valentines Day instead ;)

Pickle Loving Pregnant Lady

My sister was laughing with me this weekend when I told her that the last time I went grocery shopping, I looked down in my cart and saw Ramen noodles and pickles. . .i don't think i've bought ramen noodles since I was in college and I've been buying a lot of the 20 cent yumminess this pregnancy.  We've been going through plenty of pickles as well.  We laughed as I was all over the noodle salads this weekend :)  One in particular was a ramen noodle salad. . mmmm!

 Ainsley has a friend over today and they asked if they could make their own recipes in my kitchen.  I told them yes as long as they cleaned up when they were done!  A few of their concoctions. . .

I heard them discussing starting a dessert shop ;)

Easter Weekend 2013

 We had a very fun filled Easter weekend!  Friday we left at naptime (thinking Ryker would sleep while we drove. . he did not) to visit my grandparents.  The care center where they live had an Easter egg hunt, so the kids had fun with that :)  My parents treated us to a nice hotel room with enough beds for everyone (all the kids slept so great. . except Ryker. . are you noticing a theme?)  The kids loved swimming, exploring the hotel,  hunting for baskets and eggs from Grammy and Grampa bunny,  and DQ supper with Grammy and Grampa. 

 I usually dislike toys from the dollar store bc they break easily, but the dollar store blow up animals were a hit. 

 

While in the pool area, Porter thought it was the best day ever and was hoping it wasn't all a dream. . .he rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming ;)

 Ryker spent his pool time jumping into daddy's arms and swimming back to the edge.  Trey got really confident in the water this winter while we swam at Family Wellness, so he was holding his breath and swimming with his face under water. 

GooF and I were chatting that it really did feel like a "vacation" when we had grammy and grampa with us, bc 4 adults to 4 kids is a great ratio!  The 3 oldest are just so fun and independent (for instance, they packed for themselves. . .nevermind that meant packing one outfit to Porter and that meant packing just stuffed animals to Trey ;) )  Speaking of stuffed animals, Trey has 4 favorite stuffed animals...Winter, Baby Winter (both dolphins), Froggy and Baby Froggy (both frogs).  At the Easter egg hunt he won a stuffed duck.  I was waiting to hear what he'd name it. . you'll never guess. . .he named it Ducky and he asked if I'd get him a Baby Ducky :)

 

Back to how it really was a very relaxing vacation.  Even Ryker thought so. . .

 

Too bad he didn't get the memo that he was supposed to fall asleep on the van ride home ;)

Saturday night we dyed Easter eggs.  I gave Ryker an egg to stick in the dye.  Instead, he hit it against the side of the cup and cracked it open (like he's used to doing when we bake). . .he was surprised and confused that it didn't run everywhere.  This made the rest of us laugh pretty hard. 

Rykers cracked open egg :)  Did I also mention Ryker made us laugh pretty hard the other night when he called GooF "papi". . .the kid likes Dora. 
We also did Resurrection Eggs. 
Sunday morning the kids hunted for their baskets . . .we went to church and breakfast at church.  Grammy got the boys cute matching shirts that I was hoping to get a great pic of them in after church.  Well, Ryker spilled orange juice on his at church, so we took it off him for the ride home.  And you will never guess what happened next.  It was 10:30 am, he was shirtless, and he FELL ASLEEP on the ride home from church.  I guess those two days with no naps caught up with him!  GooF and I got a little nap in too before we headed to an annual Easter Egg hunt that we go to.

Trey got this glow in the dark "God is Love" cross at the annual Egg Hunt.  He was so cute with it, telling me how Jesus died on the cross.  I love to see the kids growing in their own relationships with Jesus, and pray that they may always know how much He loves them. 

We then went to a gathering with my other grandma and relatives.  It was a jam packed weekend. . .the kids did so great (minus Rykers sleeping).  There was a time when taking all of them out was difficult. . .for the most part, we are able to just enjoy them out and about now. . im not spending all my time chasing them, cutting up food, etc etc etc. (thanks to GooF. . .he is so helpful with Ryker).  I have a huge heart for my mama friends that have small children at home. . .their needs are many and I had some loooooong days counting down the hours til Ryan would get home from work.  With 3 of ours school age now, I am enjoying this new stage.  Hopefully #5 will just fit right in :)

From after lunch until bedtime, Ainsley, Porter, and Trey were inseperable.  They even took their supper outside to eat together :)  One of the great things about homeschooling is that the kids are with each other during the best part of their day, and I love to see the friendships amongst them.  They are typical siblings, of course, and have their disagreements. . .I overheard one today and decided it sounded like a "kid issue" that they could handle on their own.  Sure enough, they must have worked it out, bc a few minutes later is was back to fun.  I considered learning to handle conflict on their own a great lesson!  And as ma says in the Laura Ingalls books we read during lunch, "alls well that ends well."  Looks like a great ending to a great day. . . .

 

the "bunkbed trundle bed". . .

 

 

Dear lil baby #5,

Today I got a glimpse of your head, spine, and beating heart (the dr guessed heartrate was about 160/170). What a joy it was to see you moving inside me. You are such a miracle. . .your Heavenly Father is knitting you together and I am so thankful to be your mommy. Ainsley got to see you also, via ultrasound, and apparently Trey thought we were bringing you home today. . . he had a lil meltdown when he found out otherwise.   Trey is also the one who told me if I drink water and you don't know how to swim, that you will drown.  The kids are working on a list of names for you. . .pretty sure the boys would name you after a ninjago character if it was up to them. You are somewhere between the size of a plum and a peach. . .two of my favorite fruits (although apples have been my fav this pregnancy). . .and no doubt, you too, will be my favorite. . just as each of your siblings are.  Truly, it was just as amazing to see a glimpse of you as it was of our first.  I look forward to feeling your movements as you grow, and come the last wk in Sept, holding you in my arms. 

ps. . .MOPS pregnancy annoucement drawings are NOT reliable.  I drew a Twin Bing. . .there was one little one in the ultrasound even though daddy still thinks it's #5 and #6 ;)

Love, mommy



A child who will remain nameless just asked why the baby is still small if my tummy is big lol
                                                                            12-13 wk baby bump